If there’s one thing that really threw the Yankees off their game this year, it was losing Gerrit Cole. The team’s entire starting rotation was built around him, and once he went down, the pitching staff never quite recovered. And you could see the drop-off throughout the season — the consistency just wasn’t there.

But now all eyes are turning to what’s next. And for Yankees fans, there’s finally a reason to smile again. Why? Because Cole recently shared a video on social media of himself pitching off the mound in the Yankee Stadium bullpen. It’s the clearest sign yet that he’s on track and could be ready to roll once the 2026 season kicks off.

So the big question now is: who will the Yankees bring in to join him in the rotation? If the rumors are true, we might even see a familiar face returning for a reunion in the Bronx.

“There are many within the organization who’d welcome a reunion with Michael King. He posted a 3.44 ERA and 4.42 FIP in 15 starts this season. Should the Yankees bring him back?” Fireside Yankees posed a question, quoting MLB insider Bryan Hoch. 

So yes, it looks like Michael King could be back on the Yankees’ radar. If you remember, he was traded to the Padres in the deal for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham back in December 2023. And guess what, that was a real loss for the Yankees. But now, there’s a real chance for a reunion.

For the unversed, King wrapped up his time in pinstripes with a solid 3.38 ERA over 115 appearances and 19 starts. And as per the latest reports, he’s declined his mutual option with the Padres, officially hitting free agency. That definitely opens the door for the Yankees to make a move.

King took his game to another level in 2024, posting a 2.95 ERA over nearly 174 innings and finishing seventh in NL Cy Young voting. The only catch? He’s expected to command around $23 million a year, per Spotrac. And while the Yankees could use more depth, they’re already loaded with top-end arms. So the question is whether they’re willing to pay that price for a reunion.

More options are available to the Yankees

The Yankees are rightly in the market for good arms, and surely they are not stuck with King only. Rather, a few more options are also in the table.

For example, David Bednar could be exactly the kind of arm the Yankees’ bullpen needs right now. The 30-year-old righty is having a strong year, putting up a 2.19 ERA with 16 saves in 37 innings. So, those numbers are definitely worth paying attention to.

Yes, the Pirates have resisted moving their closer in the past, but this might finally be the offseason they consider it. And of course, he won’t come cheap. We expect it could take one or even two top-10 prospects to pry him away from Pittsburgh, depending on how aggressive the Yankees front office is.

Another interesting name is Danny Coulombe from the Twins. He’s a bit of a throwback pitcher, relying on a mix of a cutter, sweeper, and sinker to keep hitters off balance. And what’s more interesting is opponents are hitting just .188 against him this season. With how shaky the Yankees’ bullpen has been, someone like Coulombe could be the perfect fit.

Hence, the options are definitely out there… It’s just a matter of whether the Yankees can move quickly enough to land the right guy.